Press Releases

New Guidance Released to Help Schools Earn Top Marks in Energy Efficiency

 

Webinar: The 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to Medium Office Buildings

The 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) series follows six volumes of award winning 30% guides. The AEDGs are the result of a partnership between DOE, ASHRAE, AIA, IESNA and USGBC, and the next group of publications will provide guidance on achieving 50% savings over ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004. The first guide in the new series, 50% AEDG for Small to Medium Office Buildings, is currently available for free download. This no-cost webinar provides an overview of the 50% series and outlines recommendations for energy savings in both small and medium office buildings.

New Versions of EnergyPlus and OpenStudio Plug-in for Google SketchUp

EnergyPlus is an energy analysis and thermal load simulation program. Based on a user's description of a building from the perspective of the building's physical make-up and associated mechanical and other systems, EnergyPlus calculates heating and cooling loads necessary to maintain thermal control setpoints, conditions throughout a secondary HVAC system and coil loads, and the energy consumption of primary plant equipment. Simultaneous integration of these—and many other—details verify that the EnergyPlus simulation performs as would the real building.

DOE's Commercial Lighting Solutions Web tool

The Commercial Lighting Solutions (CLS) Web tool provides building owners and tenants access to lighting design strategies that will save up to 60% on energy while still providing quality lighting. Strategies include the use of high performance commercially available products, daylighting, and lighting controls.

SB11 Helsinki: World Sustainable Building Conference Call for Papers

The aim of the World Sustainable Building Conference in Helsinki is to share leading knowledge and to find new solutions which can enhance sustainable ways of living and working within built environments.

AIA Introduces Tool to Help Architecture Firms Track Predicted Energy Use in Building Projects

 

ASHRAE 62.1 and 62.2 Updates

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the only nationally recognized indoor air quality standard developed solely for residences. And ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, sets minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and institutional buildings.

DOE Launches Website for High-Efficiency Windows

High performance R-5* windows and low-e storm windows are available for purchase through this website from a number of vendors who have qualified to participate in the volume purchase program.

Do LEED-Certified Green Buildings Protect Human Health?

Do “green” buildings protect human health from environmental hazards? The answer is “not necessarily,” according to a new report released today by Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), titled “LEED Certification: Where Energy Efficiency Collides With Human Health.”

EPA Helps States and Utilities Tap into Greater Energy Efficiency Savings

In partnership with several states and utilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new pilot program designed to further improve commercial building energy efficiency. Building Performance with Energy Star will help utilities and state energy efficiency programs achieve increased energy savings and fight climate change by strategically pursuing whole building energy improvements with their business customers. The pilot program is being launched with Energy Star partners Com Ed, MidAmerican, National Grid, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Wisconsin Focus on Energy.

Weschler on human skin interactions with indoor air

Berkeley Lab Environmental Energy Technology Division distinguished lecture: The marked difference in pollutant concentrations between an occupied and un-occupied room are only partially explained by human bio-effluents.

HUD and CPSC Issue Guidance on Repairing Homes With Problem Drywall

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today issued interim remediation guidance to help homeowners struggling to rid their properties of problem drywall linked to corrosion of metal in their homes such as electrical components.

EPA Finalizes the Nation’s First Greenhouse Gas Reporting System/Monitoring to begin in 2010

WASHINGTON – On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. This new program will cover approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions and apply to roughly 10,000 facilities.

EPA Report on Vapor Intrusion

The EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued a new evaluation report entitled, "Lack of Final Guidance on Vapor Intrusion Impedes Efforts to Address Indoor Air Risks."

The Zero Net Energy Workshop and Design Charrette pdf book

The book contains the results of a full-day Zero Net Energy Workshop and Design Charrette led by SBSEers

EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat to Public Health, Welfare

(Washington, D.C. – April 17, 2009) After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

ASHRAE Hosts Conference on Net-Zero Buildings

To help drive the building industry toward market-viable net-zero-energy buildings, ASHRAE is hosting a specialty conference on the topic in March in San Francisco.

Getting California Schools Off The Grid

California's State & Consumer Services Agency (SCSA) announced the release of Grid Neutral: Electrical Independence for California Schools and Community Colleges, a step-by-step guide to help California schools and community colleges cut energy costs through on-site electricity generation. The guidebook is the first state-backed, comprehensive program for schools to use to create campuses that generate as much electrical energy as they consume.

USGBC Reaffirms Commitment to Developing Green Building Code

The U.S. Green Building Council reaffirmed its commitment to the development of Standard 189.1 P, which will be America's first National Standard developed to be used as a green building code when completed. Created specifically for adoption by states, localities, and other building code jurisdictions that are ready to require a minimum level of green building performance for all commercial buildings, Standard 189.1 P is being developed as an ANSI standard under ASHRAE's leadership, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council and IESNA.

ASHRAE Publishes Residential IAQ Guideline

A new residential ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ) guideline is now available from ASHRAE.

California Adopts New Green Building Code

The California Building Standards Commission has taken the opportunity, along with other state agencies, to develop green building standards that will establish California as a leader in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from structures.

DOE to Pursue Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency David Rodgers today announced the launch of DOE’s Zero-Net Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) with establishment of the National Laboratory Collaborative on Building Technologies Collaborative (NLCBT).

U.S. Green Building Council Re-launches Greenbuild365

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has re-launched its popular Greenbuild365 Web site. Visitors will find increased educational offerings, podcasts and expanded resources, along with year-round access to plenaries and master speaker presentations from USGBC’s Annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo - the industry’s largest gathering of representatives from all sectors of the green building movement.

Spending Too Much on Energy? BuildingGreen's Fuel-Cost Calculator Simplifies Comparisons

With rapidly rising energy prices around the country, something unusual has happened. Some heating fuels that used to be quite affordable, such as heating oil, have risen in price dramatically, making competing energy sources such as electricity relatively less expensive. In parts of the Northeast and Upper Midwest, even the most expensive form of electric heat - electric-resistance baseboard heat - is now less expensive than fuel oil.

EPS Corp Unveils Tracking System for Facility Energy, Carbon Emissions

New Product Allows Companies to Monitor and Reduce Energy Use and Carbon Emissions Like Never Before

Life Cycle Building Challenge

Enter the second year of the Life Cycle Building Challenge competition, to shape the future of green building and facilitate local building materials reuse. Submit your innovative project, design, or idea for reducing to conserve construction and demolition materials and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by designing buildings for adaptability and disassembly.

Home Depot Launches National Compact Flourescent Light Recycling Initiative

The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations.